Slow Start Sinks Guvs Versus Larger School Eagles
NEPTUNE, NJ–The Governors of South Amboy had a tall task in front of them when they took on Middletown South of the Class A North Division from the Shore Conference on Monday night. South Amboy, one of the smallest schools in the GMC, and a member of the Gold Division, was playing a Group IV school in Middletown South, and although the Eagles are more known for their football prowess while their crosstown rivals from Middletown North are the better basketball school, the Guvs still had their work cut out for them. The Guvs also didn’t help their cause with 6 team fouls within the first seven minutes of play, and they use a running clock at the Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League.
Middletown South took advantage as the Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead within the first 3:27 of the contest, and never let their foot off the gas en route to a 47-30 victory over South Amboy in a week seven contest at HGHQ. The Guvs, which have been struggling on offense, had a good stretch in the latter portion of the contest with a 9-0 run over a span of 3:43 to turn a 43-17 deficit into a more respectable 43-26 score. However, Middletown South was just too much. The Guvs battled in the first half after falling behind. After the Eagles increased their lead to 10-3 at the 15:24 mark, South Amboy had a decent stretch where it scored 9 of the next 14 points over a span of 9:24 to pull within three at 15-12 with six minutes remaining in the first half. Kiere Ford highlighted the run with two appearances at the charity stripe, where he went 3 of 4 while the Guvs also got a score down low.
Unfortunately, the Governors were unable to maintain the momentum. Instead, Middletown South finished the first half by scoring 5 of the last 7 points for a 20-14 halftime lead, and then began the second half with a 23-3 surge over the first 8:12 to take a commanding 35-17 lead. The only bright spot during the stretch was a three pointer by Ryan O’Leary, who sank two treys in the second half for South Amboy. The Eagles tear started out with two quick scores at the beginning of the half, and then following O’Leary’s three, six more unanswered points including a layup at the 14:28 mark for a 13 point edge. Middletown South then added a steal for a breakaway layup at the 12:53 mark, and then after a Guvs timeout with 12:47 remaining, a three point play at the 11:48 mark. The Eagles didn’t stop there either. Middletown South scored eight more unanswered points before the Guvs, which had a scoring drought of 9:27, got on the board again.
South Amboy’s best run of the game was highlighted by a layup from Ford at the 7:45 mark, one of two from the foul line by Tim Kales at the 6:15 mark, and O’Leary’s second three of the half with 4:20 remaining. Julian Munoz then ended the scoring in the contest with a pair of free throws with 50 seconds left after Middletown South scored 4 of 6 ponints over a span of 2:50. Wins have been hard to come by for the Guvs this fall. A nice win over Asbury Park in Week #3 is the only bright spot in a 1-6 season that has been a struggle for the Governors. South Amboy will try to end the fall at the Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League on a positive note when it takes on Old Bridge in the finale on Monday night, October 27th at 6:00 PM on the Nets Court. The Knights will be another tall order for the Guvs since they have been the best performing GMC team in the league at 5-2 despite two straight losses.